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ITGlossary · EV charging
EV Connector Type 2
The standard AC charging connector for electric vehicles in Europe, also known as Mennekes.
Technical level:Basic
Type 2 (also known as Mennekes) is defined by IEC 62196-2 and is the AC charging standard in the European Union, including Greece. It has seven pins and supports both single-phase and three-phase charging: up to about 7.4 kW single-phase and up to 22 kW on a 32 A three-phase supply. DC fast charging uses the CCS2 connector, which is based on Type 2 with two additional pins.
For a wallbox, you can choose a model with a tethered cable or with a socket, where the driver uses their own cable.
A common mistake is expecting 22 kW charging from a 22 kW charger. The speed is limited by the car's on-board charger; if it accepts 11 kW, that is how fast it will charge. Also check whether your supply is single-phase or three-phase.
Related terms
- AC ChargingCharging with alternating current, where the vehicle's on-board charger converts it to direct current to fill the battery.
- CCS2 (Combined Charging System)The European connector standard that adds two DC pins below a Type 2 plug, allowing fast DC charging through the same vehicle inlet.
- Noise (Electrical)Unwanted high-frequency disturbances on the supply voltage, e.g. from motors or power supplies, which UPS systems and line conditioners filter out.
- Offline (Standby) UPSA UPS that leaves the load on the mains and switches to battery only when the mains fails, with a short transfer time; the simplest and cheapest topology.
- CHAdeMOA Japanese DC fast-charging standard with its own separate connector, now giving way to CCS2 in Europe.
- On-board Charger (OBC)The converter inside an electric vehicle that turns the station's AC into DC and sets the maximum AC charging power.